Though I am new to the world of Xiaomi smartphones, I have been an avid user of Xiaomi tablets and wearables. Now that the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is coming to North America, I have been able to go hands-on with the device, and much like the Pad 6, this is now my new daily driver, without question.
For a long time, tablets felt like nothing more than something we handed to our kids to keep them distracted. I never understood gaming outside of things like Candy Crush, and I never understood the diehard following behind iPads. Since beginning to travel for work, I started to see the appeal, but it wasn’t until I got my hands on the Xiaomi Pad 6 that I found a device that could be used for more than Netflix and simple games—though let’s be honest, I’m still doing that too.
When Xiaomi sent over the Pad 7 Pro, they also piled on the accessories, including two different keyboard cases, including the Focus Keyboard, plus the Focus Pen and an additional cover. The Focus Keyboard features a trackpad, which is something I was sorely missing with my Pad 6. It also positions the tablet similarly to how the iPad Pro M4’s case does and feels extremely sturdy, even while sitting on my lap or being jostled.
The other case is just like the keyboard on the Pad 6, which I was happy with, but the new trackpad and case are perfect for travel or work on the go. Last year’s OnePlus Pad 2 was an excellent tablet ruined by a subpar case and keyboard, so I am happy to see that we are off to a great start with the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro.
The tablet itself has a dark grey finish and is somewhat resistant to fingerprints—somewhat—and it has a pretty thick bezel. It’s surprisingly thick, actually. I would like to see that lowered, but given the size of the device, it can be forgiven. The Xiaomi Pad 7 features an IPS LCD display with 68B colours and 800 nits brightness—a welcome 350 nits above its predecessor. It does sit below the iPad Pro, OnePlus Pad 2, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, but beats out the iPad Air 11 and the S10+, which it is likely closer to in price.
Compared to my Xiaomi Pad 6, the Pad 7 Pro’s 3K 2136 x 3200 pixel display is crisp and vibrant, with colours looking better than ever. While watching Star Trek (2009)—don’t judge me—dark scenes were detailed, and the action looked engaging and exciting. Animated movies like The Super Mario Bros. Movie were brilliant and bright. The display makes watching media on your tablet feel like you aren’t sacrificing.
Sound on the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro continues the trend, feeling rich and much deeper than on the Pad 6. Though I usually use headphones or earbuds while on the go, I have been watching the tablet on my couch for testing, and between action sounds causing me to turn the device down and medical dramas sounding squishier than I would like, I was impressed. The sound fires with two speakers on each end, really filling the room. It will come in handy for hotel room binging, too!
Running on the latest Android 15, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro feels fast and fluid. Part of that is thanks to the Adreno 735 GPU, up from the Pad 6 Pro’s 730. AI capabilities with Copilot were surprisingly fast, with images generating in under seven seconds and pulling in text even faster. Gaming was near flawless, with a 144Hz refresh rate, which is above both the iPad Pro 11 and the S10 Ultra, which are 120Hz. At some point, tablets need to accept that we aren’t aiming for 200 FPS while mobile gaming.
Playing Age of Empires Mobile, I saw snow falling and trees blowing in the wind. Character models looked beautiful, beyond what some of my laptops can detail. However, very badly want to be able to use the smart pen while gaming, especially during games like SimCity, Age of Empires Mobile and Hidden in My Paradise.
The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro tablet has done the opposite of most devices lately and has gotten bigger. In a world where everything is aiming for thinner and lighter, the Pad 7 Pro is now 11.2 inches, compared to last year’s 11 inches, and 500 grams, compared to 490. These aren’t major size jumps and don’t affect much, but for people looking for the smallest there is, they will need to look elsewhere. The iPad 11 Pro is only 444g, though the S10 Ultra is 718g, and the OnePlus Pad 2 is 584, so it is slightly heavier but also 12.1 inches.
Battery life on the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is excellent, but that is to be expected from Xiaomi at this point. The 8850 mAh battery is up from 8600, though oddly, both are below the Pad 6’s 8840 mAh battery. The OnePlus Pad 2 and S10 Ultra beat the Pad 7 Pro, but it sits above the iPad Pro 11. In practice, it charged about 15 percent in 15 minutes. While watching nearly four hours of video playback straight, it only used 17 percent, and with another 2.5 hours mixed with gameplay, it still sat at 67%.
That means that with over six hours of intense screen use, I didn’t even bring the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro battery to half. It is more than capable of lasting long flights without charging, watching Netflix or Crave, gaming and more. If you are only using it for productivity, that only stretches the battery further, making this the perfect device for you.
Not that I think anyone is using it, but the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro features a 50 MP rear camera, which is as capable as some major smartphones today. It also features a centred 32 MP selfie camera, so if work calls or Facetime with your partner are in your future, the Pad 7 Pro is more than capable of doing what you need it to.
The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro tablet is quite literally everything you could need in a device. Perfect for on-the-go, with an excellent display for consuming media, a battery that will last you far longer than you need, and accessories that are just right, you can’t go wrong with the Pad 7 Pro.
